Author: Loner2012AT
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4m 45sLenght

(0:06) These locals were hanging out at the gas station, were I spent a lot of time. I checked out of the hotel and had a nice long phone call with Jeanie, spending lots of quarters. *Click 'SHOW MORE' below for more notes about this video... I delved into town and there is lots of tourist stuff, including the Hobo Railroad! There are also several outfitters and ski shops here with plenty of hiking gear. They also have mountain climbing stuff and rent river rafting tubes, kayaks, ATV four wheelers, mountain bikes, or most other outdoor contraptions you can think of. (0:55) Lahout's is the oldest ski shop in America, started in 1899. They host 'Moose Tours' and boasts 99% sightings, from a modified 4x4, safari style Land Rover. The chalk board counted '6' seen last trip! (http://lahouts.com). (1:07) Snowmobiles are everywhere up here, but a very rare site in South Carolina, where I live. (1:10) The library had fun signs in front, with arrows pointing to cities around the world. The librarian here is very strict! I was accosted for talking, while a filming a video inside: "NO PHONE'S ALLOWED!" I did not have a phone but was told to "Keep quiet!" and still given a verbal warning, and the stink eye. They also charge $4 an hour for out-of-towners to use the 'public' computers and a internet café nearby, costs even more. These little expenditures can add up over 5-6 months on the trail, and not factored into most hikers planned budgets. Sorry these pics are out of order, the AT transverses 16 miles up and around the towns, and only takes a night to hike to the other side. Because I was in the same town, just 2 days apart, decided to combine the pics into one video. I checked the mail and called Jeanine again, (yes I was hooked too). I invited her to come visit for a hike, and she said yes! 'Weezy' was in town and appeared to have a new girlfriend too. He was staying at Chet's hostel. Chet the owner, was planning a thru hike a few years ago, but almost died testing a backpackers stove when it blew up in his face. He survived a coma for nine months, but is almost blind and now uses a wheel chair. He still has a great attitude and turned his house into a hostel. It's under the radar and not listed in guidebooks, and only big enough to host a few hikers at a time on a work-for-stay basis. It's near the library, just look for the flagpole in his front yard. Walking back to the trail, I passed several tourist traps including a huge waterpark, full of screaming kids. (1:35) Indian Head resort and lookout has a tepee in front, perfect for stealth camping! There is also lookout tower with a view of Indian Head. It's a granite rock profile in the shape of an Indian head (of course). It was exposed by a forest fire in the early 1900's. I remember visiting here as a child, as well as the nearby Old Man on the Mountain, whom collapsed in 2003. (1:22) Flume Gorge is near Franconia Notch, just follow the signs down the bike trail. There is a parking lot and good hitching. (http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Flume_Gorge). (1:26) This old stagecoach was incredible and this stuffed plush moose was full size! (1:51) A historical marker details the first widely reported UFO abduction and account of 'missing time'. It happened to Betty and Barney Hill near at this site in 1961, after a brightly-lit, cigar shaped spaceship, chased them in their car. Barney claimed he counted up to 11 humanoid figures, peering at him from small windows. He described the beings as "somehow not human". (http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Barney_and_...). (1:57) Clark's Trading post is a full-on tourist trap with gift shops, and bear shows. (2:07) Eliza Brook was a brand spanking new shelter. 'Y' posts were a nice architectural touch. (2:31) The bear box was full of empty Gatorade bottles, probably well intentioned trail magic, that will now have to be packed out by some poor ridge runner. There were several here notes reminding hikers to carry out their trash. (2:39) My feet were sinking into this spongy mash, just in the few seconds it took to film this video. (3:06) Back on the trail, I realized my new bottle of HEET, had been lost. I decided to not go back for it and cooked with 'solar' power for rest of the week. Ramen is 100 times better cooked, but not as bad as it sounds. (3:52) Carter Notch Hut is the first one you'll pass on the AT, and also the oldest. The lake and view of the mountains here was amazing! However, I was so offended to hear the murmur of dozens of people inside, way before I got there, I did not even stop for a look. I had already passed 3 parties of Harvard College preps, out on orientation hikes, going the other direction. I had to step off into the woods each time, to let all them by. The hut system, based on similar huts in the Alps, have been open to hikers for 125 years. There are owned and maintained by the AMC, (Appalachian Mountain Club.) (4:37) There was a note here about a lost camera. .